Menzies Distribution Supports Businesses During Commonwealth Games

22

April 2014

Newspaper wholesaler and logistics expert Menzies Distribution has released its ‘Commonwealth Games Logistics Plan’ to keep deliveries moving in Glasgow and the central belt this summer, as Scotland prepares to welcome the world during the Commonwealth Games.

With only a few months to go, Glasgow will shortly be welcoming around 6,500 athletes, 1,500 representatives of the wider Commonwealth Games Family, 6,000 journalists and over one million spectators.

Menzies Distribution’s action plan is based upon the official Games Route Network (GRN), released at the beginning of April, which identifies the road networks in Glasgow which will be affected by diversions, delays or closures during the Games in July and August.

With more information about the route expected to be announced over the coming days and weeks, Menzies Distribution has so far identified around 600 of its customers who are likely to be directly impacted by the GRN. These customers are situated on 30 of the company’s main delivery routes.

Glasgow’s East End in particular, which houses the Commonwealth Games Village, the new Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Emirates Arena, Glasgow Green and Celtic Park, is likely to see increased congestion, as well as areas to the west of the city, including the SECC, Kelvingrove Lawn Bowls Centre and the Scotstoun Sports Campus.

Plans to ensure businesses receive their deliveries and stock on time during the 11 day event are based on the successful implementation of a special ‘Games’ strategy established by Menzies Distribution during the London 2012 Olympic Games. This saw the business achieve a 100% on-time delivery rate, despite the congestion.

Specific plans to ensure smooth deliveries during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games include:

•introduction of extra vehicles during the Games period

•on-going monitoring of traffic congestion to ensure drivers can avoid the busiest routes

•regular analyses of sales data to ensure that retailers in particular can respond to increases in demand for magazines and newspapers from customers

•the introduction of a special Commonwealth ‘control centre’ in Menzies Distribution’s Linwood offices, just outside of the city

•ensuring all drivers hold suitable photo ID and documentation to allow quicker access through checkpoints to help keep deliveries moving

Information on the route network announced so far indicates that there might be more of an impact on congestion during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow compared to the impact that the Olympic Games had on congestion in London during 2012. In London, activity was spread across a very large area during the Olympics, while in Glasgow events are taking place in a relatively small area between the East End and the SECC, meaning there will be an increase in the likelihood of congestion.

Grant Keogh, Menzies Distribution’s ‘Games planner’ said: “It’s all about preparation when it comes to the Games, as we know first-hand from our experience at the London Olympics. We are putting the lessons we learned then into practice now, as we aim to manage deliveries on time to retailers during the games this summer.

“From the Linwood ‘control centre’ my team and I map out venues, event days and restrictions, as well as routes and businesses affected as information is released from organisers. We are well-prepared and working hard to ensure that delays are minimal.

“Good logistics firms with a supply chain requirement in Glasgow should be advising and supporting their customers during the games, ensuring that products are delivered as timely and efficiently as possible. I would encourage any businesses that want to avoid delays to start speaking to their delivery and logistics firms now to plan around the games.”